Folding table



Oct. 17, 1933. w. P. DE SAUSSURE, JR 1,930,741

FOLDING TABLE Filed Oct. 10, 1931 '4 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR may. Zia/ 2;

A; ATToNEY 1933- w. P. DE SAUSSURE, JR 1,930,741

FOLDING TABLE Filed Oct. (10, 1931 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 4 INVEN OR A; ATTO-RNEY 1933- w. P. DE sAussuRE, JR 1,930,741

FOLDING TABLE Filed 001;. 10, 1931 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 knit-J? 9 INVENTOR M ATTORNEY 1933. w. P. DE'sAussuRE, JR 1,930,741

FOLDING TABLE Filed Oct. 10. 1931 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 ga /WENT A ATTORNEY Patented Oct. 17, 1933 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE FOLDING TABLE ware Application October 10, 1931. Serial No. 568,047

4 Claims.

This invention relates to folding tables, and more particularly to tables constructed in units or sections which may be coupled together to form large tables of varying sizes according to j the number of units or sections linked together. Tables of this character are designed especially for use in hotels, clubs, and other places where large tables are required from time to time.

A construction embodying the various features 10 of the invention in the form now considered best is shown in the accompanying drawings, wherein;-

Fig. 1 .is a plan view of a composite table constructed in accordance with the invention;

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the same;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged detail section on the line 3-3 of Fig. l;

Fig. 4 is a section on the line 4--4 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a plan view on a scale larger than .20. that of Figs. 1 and 2 of the underside of a part of one of the end sections of the table with the legs extended;

Fig. 6 is an end View of the table section of Fig. 5 showing the locking strip;

Fig. '7 is a section through one of the end sections showing the legs in elevation, one leg being in folded and the'other' leg in extended position; I

Fig. 8 is a plan view of the legs of Fig. 7 with parts in section on the line '88 of Fig. '7;

Fig. 9 is a section on the line 9-9 of Fig. 8;

Fig. 10 is a section on the line 1010 of Fig. 8; Fig. 11 is a detail view showing a part of the toggles for one of the legs of Fig. '7;

Fig.12 is a section on the line l2-12 of Fig. 11;

Fig. 13 is'a section on the line 13-13 of Fig. 11;

Fig. 14 is a plan view of the underside of one of the intermediate tables showing one pair of legs in folded position and the other pair of legs 40 in extended position;

Fig. 15 is a section on the line l5-l5 of Fig. 14;

Fig. 16 is a detail section on the line 1616 of Fig. 15; and

Fig. 17 is a detail view partly in section showing a part of the toggle for one of the legs of Fig. 14.

The complete table shown comprises a pair of rectangular four-legged table units 20, a pair of rectangular two-leggedtable units 21, and a pair of semi-circular two-legged units 22. The units 50 .20 and 21 are detachably locked together at their ends, and the semi-circular end sections are detachably locked to the ends of the adjacent pair of sections 20 and 21 respectively. When the units areassembled as shown, the pairs of units 20 and 21 abut longitudinally and are prevented from separating by the end sections 22.

The units 20 may, if desired, be used as separate individual tables as they each have four legs. The other units or sections, having only two legs each, can be used only as parts of a larger table. 5

One suitable form of connection comprises a strip 23 having a downwardly extending'flange 24 connected to the horizontal portion of the strip by a rounded part of fairly large radius. This strip 23 is riveted or otherwise secured to the underside of one of the table sections so that the flange 24 is located at quite a distance out from the edge of the table section. The underside of the adjacent table section is provided with two angles 25 arranged perpendicularly to the end of the section. The depending flange of each angle 25 is formed, as shown, with a cutaway portion 2'7, to allow the flange 24 to be brought into detachable interlocking engagement with the end of each angle 25. This cutaway part is provided with a lip 28 to hold the flange 24 in position longitudinally with respect to the angle 25. Movement of the flange 24 transversely with respect to the angle 25 may be prevented by forming a notch 26 in the lower edge of the flange 24, the sides of which notch engage the sides of the angle 25 below the cutaway part .27. i

It will benoted that each of the interlocking connections is composed of two parts, one of which is wholly within and substantially concealed by the margin of the table section to which it is secured, while the other projects beyond such margin. As it would interfere with the use of a unit as a separate individual table to have parts extending beyond the table edge while the presence ofsuch projecting parts does not affect the use of a unit which can be used only as a part of a larger table, the projecting parts are placed on the latter type of units and the concealed parts on the table units designed for both individual and composite use.

The sections or units which are designed to be used only as parts of a larger table are constructed with projecting connection parts at one end and concealed connecting parts at the other end. This construction has two important advantages, first, it enables any number of such sections or units to be connected together end to end, second, it enables tables to be formed wholly of such units as 20 and 21, without the use of semi-circular end table units, as 22. This last advantage follows from the fact that if a unit, as 21, is coupled to a unit, as 22, the end of the unit 21 away from the unit 20 has concealed projecting parts and hence is adapted to form a part of the edge of the composite table.

The semi-circular end sections 22 are each provided with a pair of legs 30, 31. As these legs are longer than the distance between the base of the legs and the straight edge of the end-section, they are arranged to fold transversely of the table as a whole instead of longitudinally, as in the case of the legs for the rectangular sections 20 and 21.

The legs 30 and 31 are form-ed of steel tubing, rectangular in cross-section, as shown in Fig. 9. For pivotally supporting these legs, pairs of angles 32 and 33 are riveted to the underside of the table. Each leg has spot-welded along one side a strip 34 pivotally connected by a rivet 35 to the depending flange of the angle 33. Further, each leg has spot-welded thereto a Z-shaped strip 36, one arm of which extends into the end of the leg, while the other arm is pivotally connected by a rivet 37 to the angle 32. The legs are stiffened by triangular plates 38 each of which is spot-welded along one side to one of the legs and is provided along the adjacent edge with a flanged portion welded to the Z-strip 36. The pairs of angles 32 and 33 are mounted so that the two legs can fold towards each other in parallel relation, as shown in Fig. 8.

Means are required for releasably holding these legs in both folded and extended position. As shown, the means for holding the legs in folded position include I a catch 40,, provided with a beveled edge, as shown in Fig. 10, for engagement with the end of the leg 30. This catch is spotwelded to one end of a spring 41 attached at the other end'to the member 36 of the leg 31. The leg 30 is released by withdrawing the catch by pressing on the spring 41. It will be noted from Fig. 8 that the triangular plate 38 which is attached to the leg 30 underlies the outer end of the leg 31, so that when the leg 30 is in folded position the leg 31 is held in similar position.

The legs 30 and 31 are releasably held in extended position each by a pair of toggle links 42 and 43 pivotally connected together at 44. Each link 42 is pivotally connected to the adjacent angle 33 at 45. Each link 43 is pivotally connected to its corresponding leg 30 or 31 at 46. The toggles are so arranged and proportioned that when the legs are extended at right angles to the table the links 42 and 43 are in alignment.

To prevent accidental folding of the legs and consequent collapse of the table, means are provided for releasably holding the links 42 and 43 in alignment. For this purpose the links 43 are extended beyond the points of connection 44 with the links 42 and are formed with beveled or rounded extensions 47 on one side, as shown more particularly in Figs. 11 and 12. A strip of spring steel 43 is secured at one end to each link 42, near its pivot point 44. The other end of each of these strips is turned inwardly so as to extend through a hole 49 in the link 42 and then bent rearwardly at an angle to the body of the strip to form a cam portion 50. As the link 43 is swung from the dotted line position of Fig. 7 to the full line position, the beveled projection 47 of the link 43 passes under the cam portion 50 and pushes it laterally. As soon as the projection 47 has passed under the portion 50, the latter drops down behind the projection into the position shown in Fig. 12 and locks the links 42 and 43 against downward and outward movement towards the dotted line position of Fig. 7.

It is desirable to also prevent upward and inward movement of the toggle links from their aligned position. Further, the satisfactory operation of the locking mechanism 48, 50, just described depends on maintaining the links in approximately sliding contact. If the links were allowed to separate, then the projection 47 could ride over the top of the cam portion 50. To prevent inward and upward movement of the links and also their lateral separation, a plate 51 is welded to the link 43. This plate is bent upwardly so as to contact with the edge of the link 42 and then inwardly to form a flange 52 adapted to extend over the link 42 when the parts are in the full-line position shown in Figs. 7 and 11, and as shown more particularly in Fig. 13.

The plate 51, along its opposite edge, is formed with a flange 53 adapted to rest on the upper side of the adjacent leg, i. e., between the table and the leg, so that the toggle links are held in folded position when the legs are folded against the underside of the table.

The table units or sections 20 are provided with four legs each, 60, 61, 62 and 63. The pair of legs 60 and 61 are connected at their upper ends by a cross-bar 64 so that they move together. Legs 62 and 63 are also connected by a similar cross-bar 64. Each pair of legs is pivotally connected to the table top by means of lugs 65 extending from the cross-bar 64 and pivotally connected to oneof the angles 25 by means of rivets 66.

Means are provided for engaging oneof each pair of legs to hold the same in folded position. As shown, these means consist of beveled catches 67, each welded to one end of a spring steel strip 68, the other end of which strip is welded or 110 otherwise secured to an angle-bar 69, extending transversely across the underside of the .table. One of these catches 67 engages an aperture in the end of leg 61 and the other a similar aperture in the end of leg 62.

The legs are held in extended position by toggle links 70 and 71. Each pair of links 70 is pivotally attached at 74 tothe ends of an anglebar 73 formed, as shown in Fig. 17, of two overlapped angles 72 and 73. The links 70 and 71 are pivotally connected to each other at 75 and the links '71 are similarly attached to the legs 76. Each pair of links 71 is connected for simultaneous movement by a cross-bar or angle bar, 77, one flange of which is cut away at theen'ds, as shown in Fig. 16, to accommodate the ends of the link 71. The other flange is bent inwards along the face of each link 71 and is welded thereto. The ends 79 of this flange arebent outwards so as to underlie the legs '60, 61, 62 and 63 respectively when the latter are in folded position, so that the legs hold the angle-bar 77 and thereby the toggles in place. Recesses 78 are provided on the underside of the table to receive the flange ends 79.

The toggles are releasably locked in extended or aligned position by engagement of a catch 80, attached to the cross-bar or angle-bar 77 by a spring steel strip 81, with an angle 72 centrally attached to the angle 73 (Figs. 14 and 17) secured to the underside of the table. This catch has a beveled edge so that it can slide over the edge of the angle 72. It is withdrawn from engaging position by pressure of the fingers on the spring strip 81.

The legs on the table sections 21 are constructed similarly to those on the section 20, although only one pair of legs is provided for each section 21 instead of two pairs, as the sections 20 serve to support one end of each of the sections 21.

The warping of the table tops is desirably prevented by making them of ply wood and stiffening them by means of longitudinal battens 82, formed of angle-bars. The splintering of the edges of the table tops may be avoided by attaching a strip 83 of non-corrodible metal, such as duralumin, to the table edge. To prevent such strip buckling, it is best of angular section, as shown.

What is claimed is:

l. A sectional table, comprising two end units and a plurality of rectangular intermediate units arranged therebetween, the width of the end units being an even multiple of the width of the intermediate units, at least one of the rectangular units having four legs and at least one of the other units having only two legs, and means for detachably connecting the end and intermediate units together, whereby the units having only two legs are stabilized by the unit or units having four legs.

2. A sectional table as in claim 1, in which the end units are semi-circular in form.

3. A sectional table, comprising two table sections, an angle member secured to the underside of the edge of one section parallel to such edge with one flange extending downwardly, a second angle member secured to the underside of the other section perpendicularly to the edge thereof with one flange extending downwardly, said last mentioned flange having a cutaway portion to receive a portion of the downwardly extending flange of the first angle.

4. A sectional table as in claim 3, in which the first mentioned flange is formed with a notch adjacent the cutaway portion of the last mentioned flange to provide a double lock preventing all relative movement of said flanges.

WILLIAM P. DESAUSSURE, JR. 

